A stoppage time headed goal from Harry Kane helped England to a 2-1 win over minnows Tunisia. It was 2006 when England had scored two goals in a World Cup game; an English player last scored two goals in a World Cup almost 28 years ago.
This was not a perfect display from England with Raheem Sterling spurning the chance of the night just at the fifth minute or when Kyle Walker gave away a soft penalty. However, England was like a livewire intermittently. In parts though, England seemed slipping away to another night of disappointment. On the 11th minute, Ashley Young took a corner kick and John Stones rose high and fired his header to goal. The ball was palmed away by goalkeeper Hansen onto the path of Harry Kane who expertly turned it in to the goal.
But England soon gave away a penalty, courtesy Kyle Walker whose positioning should have been better. He caught Ben Youssef’s trailing arm with Youssef falling very easily for the referee to point to the spot, and the scores were soon level. England going into half time level with Tunisia did not give a true picture of their dominance over Tunisia.
However, just as England had started to look forlorn and everyone were wondering what might have been if England had converted the numerous chances they had created, Kane changed the entire narrative! England had won a corner late into injury time, and as Kieran Trippier took the corner, the ball deflected past Harry Maguire and again into the path of Harry Kane who finished coolly with a header past the Tunisian goalkeeper.
England finally got a win in a World Cup match with a scoreboard that somewhat justified the extravaganza of attacking talent they took into this tournament.
